Meat-tenderer



{No Model.) J. W. PRA'NOKE.

MEAT TENDERER.

Patented Sept. 4, 1894.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. FRANCKE, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

MEAT-TENDERER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 525,595, dated September l, 1 894.

Application filed April 30,1894.

To 0115 whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN W. FRANCKE, of New Haven,in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement; in Meat-Tenderers; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1, a view in side elevation of a meattenderer constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a detached view in side elevation of the body, handle-shank and bolster of the device; Fig. 3, a detached view in side elevation of one of the knives; Fig. 4, a reverse plan view of the device; Fig. 5, a view thereof in vertical cross-section on the line a-b of Fig. 1.

My invention relates to an improvement in meat-tenderers, the object being to produce an effective device particularly designed with reference to strength and the convenient removal and restoration of its knives With these ends in view, my invention consists in a meat-tenderer having certain details of construction and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In carrying, out my invention, I construct the body A of the device, the cleaver-shaped handle-shank A and the bolster of the handle, in one piece, wherebyI secure great strength in the finished article. Handle pieces A corresponding in curvature to the handle-shank, are secured thereto by means of rivets A. The opposite faces of the lower edge of the body are correspondingly recessed longitudinally and preferably throughout their lengths, as at a a, the said recesses conforming in depth to the thickness of the removable knives B B, the outer faces of which are therefore flush with the upper edge of the body, as clearly seen in Fig. 5. Each knife has formed in it near its upper edge, two perforations B B, adapted to receive short studs 0, of corresponding diameter and location, and extendin g transversely through the recessed portion of said body for equal distances on opposite sides thereof and forming lateral projections therefrom. The knives are further connected Serial No. 509,476- (No model.)

with the body by means of retaining buttons D, of which I have shown two pairs located respectively near the ends of the body of the device the buttons of each pair being secured to the opposite ends of a pin D extending transversely through the body. When these buttons are swung upward they permit the knives to be removed, while on the other hand when they are swung downward, they engage with the outer faces of the upper edges of the knives, and assist in firmly holding the same in place. Each knife consists of a flat plate of steel or other metal, having its lower edge vertically slotted to form long teeth, the lower ends of which are sharpened. As herein shown, the teeth of the knives are arranged opposite each other, but if desired they may be dodged.

It will be readily understood that the knives may be conveniently removed from the body of the device and restored thereto whether for the purpose of cleaning the device, or sharpening, or replacing the knives. The said knives being located in parallel planes on the opposite sides of the body of the device, have a space E between them, this 1 space being occupied at the points of the knives by a spring-actuated reciprocal clearer F, which consists of a long rod having a straight main portion a little longer thauthe length of the knives, and two legs bent upward at a right angle to its main portion, and passing respectively through a lug a formed at the outer end of the body of the device, and through a passage 0. formed in the bolster A thereof.

Springs F F encircling the legs of the knife are interposed between the lower edge of the luga and the lower edge of the bolster A and pins ff located near the lower end of the said legs. These springs exertaconstant eifort to throw the clearer to'the limit of its downward movement, in which its main portion projects a little beyond the edges of the knives. Like pins f f extending transversely through the upper ends of the lugs and engaging with-the upper edge of the bolster A and the upper edge of the lug a, limit the downward movement of the clearer.

In the use of the device the clearer will be pushed inward as the knives enter the meat under the force of the blow given to the device, but when the force of the blow has been spent, and the device is lifted, the springs of the clearer will reassert themselves and push it outward to its normal position, whereby the knives will be assisted in being cleared from the meat.

An eye A formed upon the upper edge of the body of the device is provided for con-' venience in hanging it up.

If preferred only one of the knives may be removably connected with the body of the device, although the construction shown will be most convenient. Although I have shown two pairs of retaining buttons, I may in their place use one pair of buttons located midway the length of the body of the device.

I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein, shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. 7

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a meat-tenderer, the combination with a knife-body having lateral projections, of two removable straight knives applied directly to the opposite faces of the said body, and containing openings to receive the said projections, and movable retaining devices mounted in the upper edge of the knife -body, and adapted to engage with the outer faces of the removable knives for holding them in place upon the said projections, substantially as set forth.

2. In a meat-tenderer, the combination with a knife-body having the opposite faces of its lower edge longitudinally recessed, and provided with lateral projections extending into one of the said recesses, of two straight knives, respectively located in the said recesses, to the depth of which they conform in thickness, and one of them containing openings adapting it to fit over the said lateral projections, from which the knife is removable; and a pivotal retaining device mounted in the upper edge of the knife-body and engaged with the outer face of the removable knife for holding it in place upon the said projections, substantially as set forth.

3. In a meat-tenderer, the combination with the body thereof, of studs projecting from the opposite faces of the said body, removable knives applied directly to the opposite faces of the said body, and having openings receiving the said studs which assist in holding them in place, and movable retaining devioee engaging with the outer faces of the knives for keeping them engaged with the studs, substantially as described.

4. In a meat-tenderer, the combination of a knife-body having lateral projections, of two straight knives removably applied directly to the opposite faces of the body, and oontain- 5 ing openings to receive the said projection; and pivotal retaining-buttons mounted in tho upper edge of the body, and adapted to ongage directly with the outer faces of the kniv. for holding them in place, substantially asset 7o forth.

5. In a meat-tenderer, the combination with a body having the opposite faces of its lower edge longitudinally recessed throughout it: length, short studs mounted in the recent! portion of the body, two straight detaohahh knives respectively located in the said rocesses, and constructed with openings which receive the said studs, and movable retaining devices mounted in the upper edge of the body for engaging with the outer faces of the knives for keeping them engaged with the studs, anti stantially as described.

6. In a meat-tenderer, the combination with a body having a handle-shank and a bolster made integral with it, the body-portion being provided at its outer end with a vertically I perforated lug, and the bolster having a vertical passage formed in it, of two straight knives applied to the opposite faces of the body, retaining devices engaging with the outer faces of the knives for holding them in place, a clearer having a straight main-portion which is located between the knives, and two legs which respectively extend through the said lug and passage, and springs applied to the legs for operating the clearer, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed tllil specification in thepresence of two subscribto ing witnesses.

JOHN W. FRANCKE.

W'itnesses:

FRED O. EARLE, LILLIAN D. KELsEY. 

